Orma Catherine (Gibson) Martin (1904 - 1979)

Born 26 Aug 1904 in Vandalia, IL [uncertain]

Ancestors

Wife of George Leeming — married 1923 (to about 1950) in Chicago

Descendants

Died 4 Jan 1979 at age 74 in Los Angeles CA

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Biography

Orma was born in 1904 in Ilinois, possibly in Vandalia, where she did live as a young child. By the 1910 census she lived in Chicago and attended Hyde Park High School. She had an interest in drama and took college classes at the MacLean College of Music, Dramatic and Speech Arts. In 1921-1922, Lightnin’ was produced at the Blackstone Theatre in Chicago, and Orma describes appearing onstage in the production, but it is not clear if she had a speaking part, or was a walk-on. Though interested to have an acting career, her parents would not let her go on the national tour of Lightnin’, because she was young and would not have been properly supervised. In 1923 she married George Leeming from Brantford Ontario, though initially they lived in Grand Rapids, MI. She had three children fairly close together and settled in as a wife and mother. Her early interest in Christian Science led her to start a church branch with another interested woman. At First Church of Christ, Scientist, Brantford in 1933, she introduced the speaker by saying— "My first contact with Christian Science came when I was six years of age. The family physician had served his best as I lay ill with double pneumonia. He then told my mother that all material means of healing had been exhausted and that if she believed in prayer to seek all of this help available. My mother did her part, and a neighbor, who lovingly assisted her, took charge of the case at this point. Soon I regained consciousness and was healed. Later, by playing in this neighbor's home and visiting Sunday school with her daughter, I learned that they were Christian Scientists. This woman today is a registered Christian Science nurse. By college age, I was studying Christian Science lectures and studying Science and Health. Two of my professors were Christian Scientists, and here I learned to apply this Science to everyday life, and found it practical. Many physical healings of colds, coughs, influenza, irritation of the eyes, and a tumorous growth on the wrist followed. What Christian Science has done for me it can do for you." In 1935, as the Depression continued, the family moved to Peterborough, Ontario to try an investment business. In 1942, her husband got a government war job in Guelph, Ontario, and the family relocated again. With the end of the war, the maturity of her children, financial stresses and the death of her father, she left her marriage. For a time in late 1947 and early 1948, her daughters did not know where she was. By 1949, she had begun a second family in St. Louis and Miami. Later in life she worked for Principia College and experienced some financial struggles as a single mother. Her religious faith was always a daily source of strength for her and she was active in the Christian Science Church. She passed away in 1979 in a Christian Science nursing home.

Sources

Christian Science Sentinel, January 27, 1934, p. 432-433.

• Created by Barbara Butler, Thursday, September 25, 2014.

• Created by Judy Young, Friday, October 17, 2014.